Brick and tile cutting machine.



No. 675,825. Patented June 4, I90I. E. M. FBEESE. BRICK AND TILE CUTTINGMACHINE.

(Applicl-tion filed Dec. 21, 1900 6 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No lodel.)

m n 0 0 M 3 w; Inca:

Tu: mm: min 00.,pmum wuumam, o. c.

6 Shuts-Sheet 2,

Patented June 4, l90l.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1900.)

wwm

E M FBEESE BRICK AND TILE CUTTING-MACHINE.

(No Nodal.)

81 u wnlio'o 13:96 er /It fiee e WM-mane:

mi N 4 e n u I d e t n a t a P .L s E E R F M F 5 2 5 7 6 0 N BRICK ANDTILE CUTTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 21, 1900.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3. 6

(No Model.)

1n: Noun In! 00, movouma, wnmmmu. n. c

No. 675,825. Patented lune 4, IBM. E. M. FREESE.

BRICK AND TILE CUTTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 91, 1900.)

(No llodol.) 6 Shasta-Shoot 4.

No. 675,825. Patented June 4, |90l. E. M. FREESE.

BRICK AND TILE CUTTING MACHINE.

(Application flied Dec. 21, 1906.)

(No Modal.) 6 Shasta-Shoot 5.

-rm: noun m m. nmu-ufnm. wmwu, a. c.

Patented June 4, l 90|.

E. M. FBEESE.

BRICK AND TILE CUTTING MACHINE.

(Lppliettion filed Dec. 21, 1900.)

(No Nodal.)

6 Shoals-Sheet 6.

m: walls PETER! co wmoumm wasmucnou n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EGBERT M. FREESE, OF GALION, OHIO.

BRICK AND TILE CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,825, dated June 4,1901.

Application filed December 21, 1900. Serial No. 40,664. (No model.)

To all whont 1'11 may concern:

Be it known that I, EGBERT M. FREESE, of Galion, in the county ofCrawford and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Brick and Tile Cutting Machines; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in brickand tile cutting machines, and has special reference to that classreceiving the bar, slab, or column of clay as it issues from the die ofa brick or tile machine and automatically cutting the same into sectionsof the proper proportions.

The primary object of the invention is to combine great simplicity anddurability with completely automatic and positive operation, avoidingthe serious objections which are found in reciprocating or vibratingcutters in which the wires operate horizontally or vertically and theobjections to the continuously-operating reel-cutters.

A further object is to provide improved means for locking eachcutting-wire to the reel and to provide the same with an independenttension and means for regulating the latter.

A further object is to avoid ragging or roughening the edges of thebricks or tiles in the cutting thereof.

A further object is to provide improved means for automaticallycuttingthe clay into sections of the proper thickness at whatever rate of speedthe same may pass from the brick or tile machine.

A further object is to provide improved means for operating thecutting-wheel while its support is moving in unison with the bar ofclay, so that the bricks or tiles shall be cut off square and straight.

A further object is to provide a cutting table of such construction thatthe bar of clay cannot become wedged thereon.

A further object is to provide improved means for effecting the cuttingof the clay, whereby there can be no failure to complete the out and incase of breakage of a wire the same will not form an obstruction to thepassage of the clay bar.

A further object is to enable broken wires to be replaced withoutinterfering with the operation of the machine; and a further object isto simplify the construction of machines of this class and increase theefficiency of operation.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is a view in perspective. Fig. 2is a side elevation with portions broken away. Figs. 3 and 4 aretransverse sectional views on lines 3 3 and 4 4:, respectively, Fig. 2.Fig. 5 shows front and plan views of the clay-supporting table. Figs. 6and 7 are opposite side Views of the cam-disk by which thereel-supporting carriage is actuated. Fig. 8 is an edge view thereof.Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively side and bottom plan views of the yokewith which the cam-disk is designed to engage. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 areenlarged details of coacting parts of the carriage-actuating mechanism.Fig. 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of one of thewire-holders, the lever being also shown in dotted lines. Fig. 15 is anend view of the casting of the holder. Fig. 16 is a side elevation ofone of the Wirecarrying rings. Fig. 17 is a view of one of the barsaround which these rings revolve. Fig. 18 is a front elevation, and Fig.19 an edge view, of one of the frictional roll-rings. Fig. 20 is anenlarged view of the carriageactuating mechanism. Fig. 21 is an enlargedview of the clutch and its adjuncts. Fig. 22 is a perspective view of amodified arrangement of the carriage-actuating mechanism. Fig. 23 is across-sectional view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a stationary frame, 2 a carriagemovable longitudinally on said frame, resting on wheels 3, which travelon rails 4, secured to frame 1. Fixedly mounted on this carriage are twogear-cases 5 open on their inner opposite sides and formed each with aspider 6, the two spiders being connected together by a series ofcross-bars 7, arranged equal distances from the centers of thegear-cases. Within these latter are gear-rings 8 of a cut ting-reel,each ring being toothed on its periphery and formed with right-angularportions (in cross-section) which contact with frictional rolls 9 and10, supported by rings 12, located within the gear-cases, the rolls 9being vertically disposed and the rolls 10 horizontally. The two toothedgear-rings 8 mesh with and are rotated by two gear-wheels 13, fast on ashaft 14, journaled in the gearcases. These rings 8 are connected bythree cross-bars 15, upon each of which is mounted means for holding andregulating the tension of each of the cutting-wires, such meansconsisting, preferably, of aholder 16, to which is connected the outerend of one of the cutting-wires 17. Preferably there are three sets ofcutting-wires, each set being spaced equal distances apart, and thespaces between the wires of each set represent the thickness of a brickor tile. Each wire at its inner end is secured to one of a series ofrings 18, fitting in grooves of and revoluble on the crossbars 7, whichlatter act as guides for said rings. Each ring is formed, preferably, intwo sections, with their ends united, and is provided with three sets ofdouble prongs 19. \Vith one prong of each set the looped end of acutting-wire is placed in engagement,and the wire is then drawn beneaththe other prong and then carried radially toward the periphery of thereel and attached to its respective holder 16. Each of these holdersembodies a casting 20, held by a screw 21 to its respective cross-bar15, a rod 22, passed through a tubular portion of the casting, acoil-spring 24, the tension of which is regulated by a nut 25 on saidrod, and a lever 26, pivoted at 27 to the lower end of rod 22. Thislever is formed with an angular portion 28, the inner end of whichcorresponds to a slight angularity in the lower end of rod 22. From oneside of lever 26 projects a lug 29, on which the outer looped end of thewire is designed to be placed when thelevcris thrown outward out ofparallelism with the rod 22, the tension of the spring being thenreleased. \Vhen the wire is thus attached to the lever, the latter isturned on its pivot: and draws the rod 22 against thetension of itsspring, which latter holds the lever locked in position in parallelismwith said rod, the pull exerted by the cutting-wire being to one side ofthe pivot of the lever. The adjustment of the nut enables differenttensions to be placed upon each wire, and this tension is such that itprevents any undue strain on or breakage of the wires when passingthrough the clay and in addition serves to keep the several wirestightly stretched, even though their lengths be somewhat increased whilein use by the stretching or loosening of the loops in the ends. Shouldany wire be broken while the machine is in operation,'the lever of itsrespective holder can be thrown over to the limit of its movement, so asto place its lug 29 nearer to the point at which the other end of thewire is secured, whereupon a new wire can be easily put in place. Suchwire, being first secured to its carrying-ring 18 at the axis of thereel, is carried between the bearingprongs 30 of the casting 20 and thenbent at right angles to its radiation, and after its end is attached tothe lug 29 the lever is returned to its normal position, compressing thespring to the necessary extent, regulated by the length of the wire,measuring from the loops at the extremities.

There being three sets of cutting-wires on the reel and the latter beingonly intermittently rotated one-third of a complete revolution at eachoperation, it is obvious from the described construction of thewire-holdcrs that new wires may be substituted for broken ones withoutinterrupting the operation of the machine, a new wire being attachedwhile the gear-rings of the reel are at rest after one of the series ofwires has performed its work.

31 designates the cutting-table upon which the bar of clay is supportedwhile being cut into sections by the wires of the cutting-reel. Thistable embodies a series of spaced-apart plates 32, secured at one sideto the lower flanged ends of spaced-apart depending portions 33 of aside bar 34, secured at its ends to the spiders of the gear-cases.letwcen the several portions 3 3 are slots similar to and in exact linewith those between the plates 32, said slots in the side bar terminatingin enlarged openings 35, wherein and through which the wire-carryingrings 18 are designed to work. It will be noted that the cuttingtablehas but one side bar, and hence no matter how expanded or swollen thebar of clay may be there is no danger of clogging. Furthermore, byemploying the series of wirecarrying rings 18 the securing-point of theinner end of each wire is as near to the securing-point of the outer endthereof as the thickness of the clay bar will permit. By thus shorteningthe length of the wire the liability of lateraldisplacement or unduestrain is reduced to a minimum. Then, too, by securing the wires tothese rings and passing the latter th rough the openings 35 thespaced-apart portions of the side thrust-bar may be made integral partsof the latter.

()ne of the gear-wheels l3 meshes with and intermittently receivesmotion from a drivingpinion 3G, loose on a constantly operated shaft 37,with which it may be made to revolve by a clutch 38. This clutch isshown as comprising a collar 39, fast on said shaft, a sliding sleeve40, capable of being longitudinally reciproeated and having dogs 41projecting through openings in collar 39 and designed to be moved intoengagement with lugs 42 on the end of pinion 36. The longitudinalmovement of the clutch is effected by a lever 43, actuated by arocker-arm 44, pivotally mounted on the frame 1 at 44, which is thrownoutward to disengage the clutch from the pinion by a finger 45 on shaft14, while its reverse movement to throw in the clutch is accomplished bya weighted tappet 46, hung on an arm 47, secured to carriage 2. As thelatter starts to move in the direction of travel of and with the bar ofclay the lower weighted end 48 of the tappet upon striking a trip in theform of a stationary abutment 49 of frame 1 the upper end of the tappetengages a lug 50 of rocker-arm 44, throwing the latter inward at its topand forcing the sliding sleeve 40 into engagement with pinion 36, whichwill thereupon be caused to rotate with the operating-shaft 37. As thelower end of the tappet rides over trip 49 (at which time its normallyupper end is in engagement with a stop 50) and frees itself ofengagement with lug 50 it will upon the return movement of the clutchride over the trip in an approximately horizontal position, forming noobstruction to the forward throw of the rocker= arm upon engagementtherewith of finger 45.

Eetween carriage 2 and the brick-machine (a portion only of which latteris shown at 51) is located a frame 52, which supports at its ends drums53 and 54and between said drums idler-rolls 55. The drums carry anendless belt 56,which travels in line with the bottom of die 57, so asto receive the bar of clay issuing from the latter. Between the drum 54and the reel-carriage is a roll-trough 58, mounted on the adjacent gearcase and equipped with lubricating-rolls 59 and 60, which are designedto lubricate the bottom and one side of the bar of clay to avoidliability of its adhering to the plate and side bar of thecutting-table. The drum 53 must be of circumference corresponding to thelength of the bar to be positioned on the cutting-table at the time ofeach operation of the reel. This drum 53 is fixed on a shaft 61, whichrevolves in a fixed sleeve 62, projecting laterallyfrom one side offrame 52. Upon this sleeve is loosely mounted a cam-disk 63, on one sideof which is a cam 64 and on the other side a cam 65. Fast on theelongated hub of disk 63 is a segmentally-toothed wormwheel 66, in thechanneled or open side of which is a lug 67. Fast on the projecting endof shaft 61 is a disk 68, which fits in the channeled side of wheel 66and is formed with a lug 69, designed to engage the lug 67 and effectthe rotation of wheel 66 at the rate of speed at which drum 53 isrotating. On the operating-shaft 37, immediately below the shaft 61, isa worm 70, with which the worm-teeth of wheel 66 are designed to mesh.Vhen this occurs, said wheel is caused to rotate at a speed greater thanthat of shaft 61; but when the engagement ceases wheel 66 will remainidle until its lug 69 is overtaken by lug 67, whereupon said wheel willagain rotate in unison with shaft 61.

'71 is a yoke straddling the hub of disk 63 on the sides thereof andprovided with rollers 72 and 73, designed to be engaged, respectively,by the cams 64 and 65. This yoke is connected to the nearer ofthetwogear-cases of reel-carriage 2 by a bar 74.

75 is a frame beyond the outer end of frame 1 in line with the dischargefrom the cuttingtable. It is provided with drums 76 and 77 and anendless belt 78, to which motion is communicated from shaft 37 bysuitable gearing. The speed of travel of belt 78 being faster than thetravel of the bar of clay, the bricks are separated as they are receivedby this belt, so that they may be conveniently removed and may also becarried away the desired distance, according to the length of the belt.

In practice the reel-carriage 2 when at rest is at that end of itslongitudinal movement toward the brick-machine, and the shaft 37 isconstantly operated by any suitable means, preferably the mechanism bywhich the brickmachiue is operated, and the pinion 36 is idle on saidshaft while the clutch members are rotating with the latter. The bar ofclay fed onto the belt 56 from the die of the brick-machine causes saidbelt to travel with it, which motion is communicated by drum 53 to disk68, and upon the lug 69 of the latter engaging the lug 67 of worm-wheel66 the cam-disk 63 will also revolve at the same speed as the bar ofclay and belt 56. Upon the cam 64 acting on roller 72 the yoke is movedlongitudinally, causing carriagefl to move withit at the speed of travelof the bar of clay. Upon the pallet 46 engaging trip 49 the rocker-armwill be thrown inward to actuate the clutch and place it in engagementwith pinion 36, communicating motion through gear-wheels 13 to thegear-rings 8 of the cutting-reel. The latter is thus caused to revolvewhile the carriage is being moved longitudinally with the bar of clay.The action of the reel is to carry one set of cutting-wires through theclay and sever the same into bricks or tiles of the required thickness,the reel being rotated one-third of a complete revolution while thegear-wheels 13 have made a complete revolution. As the shaft 14,carrying these gear-wheels, is completing its revolution the finger 45thereon engages the rocker-arm and throws it outwardly to disengage theclutch members from pinion 36. By the time cam 64 completes its contactwith roller '72 the reel-carriage has reached the limit of its outerlongitudinal movement away from the brick-machine and the cuttingoperation has been completed. As this occurs the worm-teeth of wheel 66engage positively with worm 70, the speed of which moves thecam-carrying disk 63 faster than or equally as fast as the movementimparted thereto by the barof clay. As wheel 66 is engaged by worm 70the cam acts on roller 73 of the yoke and through the connection of theyoke to the reel-carriage returns the latter to its starting-point. Asthe movement of the cam-disk ceases when the teeth of wheel 66 are freedfrom engagement with the worm, as shown in Fig. 2, cam 65 remains incontact with roller '73, so as to hold the carriage securely in positionuntil the cam-disk is again set in motion bylug 60 of disk 68 overtakingthe lug (37 of wheel 60, at which time the cam-disk will again beactuated by the travel of the bar of clay, disengaging roller 73 and camand bring cam 64 again into action against roller 72, whereupon thereelcarriage will be again moved longitudinally and the next of theseries of cutting-wires will perform its work of severing the clay. Itis evident that the circumference of drum 53 must be such that the lugs67 and 09 will be brought into engagement and the carriage be releasedwhen the end of the uncut portion of the bar of clay has reached theslot in the cutting-table farthest from the brick-machine, and as cam 61is of the proper form to move the carriage in unison with the movementof the clay the action of the cuttingwires on the latter will be exactlythe same as if both the carriage and bar of clay were at rest.

The action of the cutting-wires being diagonally downward and backwardin passing through the clay,the edges of the latter are left smooth andfree of roughness, results not obtainable if the movements of the wireswere horizontal and the wires themselves vertical. Since the length ofwire in the clay at any time is comparatively short, strain thereon isreduced and the wire is less liable to deflection than in cutters usinghorizontal wires acting upon the entire width of the clay bar at onetime orasis the case with wires extending from the exact center of areel to the periphery thereof. It will also be noted that I use but oneside bar on the cutting-table, thus avoiding the objections arisingwhere two side bars are required, as where the cutting-wires actalternately from one side to the other. The use of two side bars isobjectionable, because the bar of clay is not always of uniform width,since when it is softer at one time than another it has the tendency toswell or enlarge, causing it to become wedged between the two side bars.It will also be noted that in my present machine there is an absence ofsmall or complicated parts or any likely to require readjustment to suitvarying conditions of the clay. It is obvious that the proportions ofthe parts may be made so as to cut the clay into pieces of such size asmay be desired and as rapidly as discharged by the brick-machine, sincethe operation of the carriage and reel is controlled by the speed atwhich the bar of clay travels from such machine.

Although the machine as shown and described is an embodiment of the formI have found to be most desirable and productive of the best results,yet within the scope of my invention changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of various parts, the invention not beingrestricted to those shown and described. For instance, the gearrings ofthe reel may be supported in any suitable manner, that shown beingespecially designed to avoid wear consequent upon friction. Again, thesets of cutting-wires and the supporting-bars 15 may be increased orlessened, if desired, and the wire-carrying rings 1 8 instead ofrotating around stationary guidebars may engage a suitableroller-support, and the cutting-wires may be attached at their ends bymeans other than that shown. Then again, the actuating cam-disk 63, bywhich the carriage is moved longitudinally, may be secured directly tothe belt-drum shaft, to the end that it will be continuously revolved bysaid drum for actuating the yoke in both directions, thus dispensingwith Wormwheel 66, worm 70, and starting disk 68. This modifiedarrangement is shown in Figs. 22 and 23, wherein the sleeve 62 isdispensed with. The yoke and its rollers and the cams on the disk arethe same as before described. In one revolution of the drum 53 andcam-disk G3 the carriage is moved forward while the reel-wires arepassing through the clay and is then returned to its starting-point. p

I claim as my invention- 1. In a brick-cutting machine, the combinationof the following instrumentalities: ,a carriage having longitudinalmovements, a cutting-table and a cutting-reel, both supported by saidcarriage, means actuated by the bar of clay for moving the carriagecomprising a drum, an actuating member operated by said drum, meanssecured to the carriage designed to be engaged by said member, aconstantly-operated shaft, and means actuated by said shaft for rotatingsaid reel, as set forth.

2. In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities: a carriage having longitudinal movements, acutting-table and a cutting-reel, both supported by said carriage, meansactuated by the bar of clay for moving the carriage, comprising a drum,an actuating cam member operated by said drum, a bar connected to thecarriage and engaged by said cam member for moving the carriage inopposite directions, a constantly-operated shaft and means actuated bysaid shaft for rotating said reel, as set forth.

3. In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities: a carriage having longitudinal movements, acutting-table and a cutting-reel, both supported by said carriage, meansactuated by the bar of clay for moving the carriage in unison therewith,means for automatically actuating said cutting-reel during such movementand independently-operated means for effecting the return of saidcarriage after the reel has completed its partial rotation, as setforth.

4.. In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities: a carriage having longitudinal movements, acutting-table and a cutting-reel, both supported by said carriage, meansactuated by the bar of clay for moving the carriage in unison therewith,comprising a drum, an actuatin g member, operated thereby in moving IIOthe carriage in one direction, a constantlyoperated shaft, meansactuated by said shaft for partially rotating said reel, and means alsoactuated by said shaft for operating said actuating member independentlyof the drum to return the carriage after the reel has been rotated, asset forth.

5. In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of the followinginstrnmentalities: a carriage having longitudinal movements, acutting-table and a cutting-reel, both supported by said carriage, meansactuated by the bar of clay for moving the carriage in unison therewithcomprising a drum, an actuating member, operated by said drum in movingthe carriage in one direction, means for effecting the partial rotationof the reel during such movement, and means for actuating said member,independently of said drum, for returning the carriage after the reelhas been partially rotated, substantially as set forth.

(3. In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities: a carriage having longitudinal movements, acutting-table and a cutting-reel, both supported by said carriage, meansactuated by the bar of clay for moving the carriage in unison therewithcomprising a drum, an actuating-wheel, operated by said drum in movingthe carriage in one direction, said wheel having two cams, a yoke, aconnection between the latter and the carriage, said yoke being moved inopposite directions by said cams, means for effecting the partialrotation of the reel during the forward movement of the carriage, andmeans for actuating said cam-wheel independently of said drum foreffecting the return of the carriage, as set forth. 4

7. In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities: a carriage having longitudinal movements, acutting-table and a cutting-reel, both supported by said carriage, meansactuated by the bar of clay for moving the carriage in unison therewithcomprising a drum, an actuating-wheel, operated by said drum in movingthe carriage in one direction, having two cams, a yoke, a connectionbetween the latter and the carriage, said yoke being moved in oppositedirections by said cams, a constantly-operated shaft, means actuated bysaid shaft for partially rotating said reel, and means also actuated bysaid shaft for operating said cam-wheel independentlyof the drum toreturn the carriage after the reel has been rotated, substantially asset forth.

8. In a brick-cutting machine, the combination of the followinginstrumentalities; a carriage having longitudinal movements, acutting-table and a cutting-reel, both supported by said carriage, ashaft, a drum thereon operated by the bar of clay, adisk fast on saidshaft, a loose wheel actuated in part by said disk, a cam-wheel carryingsaid loose wheel, a yoke connected to said carriage and actuated by saidcam-wheel, a constantly-operated shaft, means actuated by the latter forpartially rotating said reel, and means on said shaft for operating saidloose wheel and camwheel independently of the drum-shaft, substantiallyas set forth.

9. The combination with the carriage, of a shaft operated by the bar ofclay, an actuating member operated by said shaft e1nbrac ing two camsfor moving said carriage forward in unison with the movement of the barof clay, and upon the completion of such movement returning saidcarriage to its normal position, cutting mechanism, and means forantomatically actuating the same during said forward movement of thecarriage, as set forth.

10. The combination with the carriage, of the feed-belt, a drum actuatedthereby, and an actuating member operated by said drum embracing twocams for moving said carriage forward in unison with the movement of thebar of clay, and upon the completion of such movement returning saidcarriage to its normal position, cutting mechanism, and means forautomatically actuating the same during said forward movement of thecarriage, as set forth.

11. The combination with the carriage, the yoke, and the bar connectingthe latter to the carriage, of a shaft operated by the bar of clay, twocams for moving said yoke in oppo site directions, said shaft effectingone of said movements through one cam, and independently-operated meansfor effecting the other of said movements through the other cam at thetermination of the first movement.

12. The combination with the carriage, the yoke, and the bar connectingthe latter to the carriage, of a shaft operated by the bar of clay, aloosely-mounted wheel having two cams for moving said yoke in oppositedirections, means whereby said wheel will be operated by said shaft, andmeans for operating said Wheel independently of said shaft and inadvance thereof, said wheel remaining at rest until again actuated bysaid shaft.

13. The combination with the carriage, and the cutting-table, of twocases mounted on the carriage, two opposed reel-rings mounted in saidcases, bars connecting said reel-rings, central bars connecting saidcases, cuttingwires secured to said ring-bars, holders for said wiresrevolubly mounted on said casebars, and means for rotating saidreel-rings.

14. The combination with the carriage, and the cutting-table, of twocases on the carriage, two opposed reel-rings mounted in said cases,bars connecting said rings, central bars connecting said cases,wire-holding rings rotatable on said case-bars, wires secured to saidholding-rings, means for yieldingly securing the outer ends of the wiresto said ring-bars, and means for engaging said reelrings for rotatingthe reel, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with the carriage, and the cutting-table, of twocases mounted on the carriage, rings in said cases having frictionalrolls, reel-rings also in said cases engaging said rolls, barsconnecting said reelrings, central bars connecting said cases,wire-holders rcvoluble on said central bars, wires secured thereto, andmeans for securing the outer ends of said wires to said ringbars,substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with the carriage and the reel havingradially-extended cuttingwir es, of the cutting-table having spacedapartdepending portions forming a side thrust-bar and a horizontal portionconsisting of spaced-apart plates secured at one end to the lower endsof said depending portions, as set forth.

17. The combination with the carriage, of the casings mounted thereonhaving a series of stationary connecting'bars all of which areequidistant from the centers of said casings, the reel, circular wireholders revoluble around said connecting bars, radially-extendedcutting-wires, and the cutting-table having a side thrustbar formed withslots and openings to permit, respectively, of the passage of the wiresand the circular holders, as set forth.

18. The combination with the carriage, and the reel having centralrevoluble circular wire-holders and radially-extended cuttingwires, ofthe cutting table having a side thrust-bar formed with a series ofcloselyarranged depending portions permanently united at their tops andformed with intervening slots and openings, and horizontallydisposedspacedapart plates secured to the lower ends of said depending portions,substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with the carriage, of the cutting-table fixedlymounted thereon having a side thrust-bar formed with openings, passagesfor the wires being provided in the table and thrust-bar, the reelhaving two end rings, holders revoluble around the axis of the reel andextended through the openings in the side thrust-bar, cutting-wiressecured at their inner ends to said holders, and means for securing theouter ends of said wires to said connecting-bars, substantially as setforth.

20. The combination with the carriage, of the cutting-table fixedlymounted thereon having horizontal and vertical slots and openings inwhich said vertical slots terminate, a reel comprising end rings, barsconnecting said end rings, central stationary bars, rings revoluble onthe latter extended through said openings in the cutting-table, andcuttingwires secured to said ring-bars and said revoluble rings,substantially as set forth.

21. The combination with the carriage, and the cutting-table, of thereel having gearrings and radially-arranged cutting-wires, connectionsbetween said gear-rings, a shaft, gear-wheels thereon meshing with saidgearrings, and means for operating said gearwheels, substantially as setforth.

22. The combination with the carriage, and the cutting-table, of thereel having gearrings and radially-arranged cutting-wires, connectionsbetween said gear-rings, a shaft, gear-wheels thereon meshing with saidgearrings, a constantly-operated shaft, a pinion loose thereon in meshwith one of said gearwheels, and means for periodically locking saidpinion to said shaft, substantially as set forth.

The combination with the carriage and the cutting-table, of the reelhaving gearrings and radially-arranged cutting-wires, connectionsbetween said gear-rings, a shaft, gear-Wheels thereon meshing with saidgearrings, a constantly-operated shaft, a pinion loose thereon in meshwith one of said gearwheels, a clutch for locking said pinion to saidshaft, and means for operating said clutch, as set forth.

2%. The combination with the carriage, and the cutting-table, of thecutting-reel, a constantly-operated shaft, and gearing intermediate saidshaft and the reel for effecting the rotating of the latter, comprisinga member loose on said shaft, a clutch for locking said member to theshaft, a rocker-awn, a lever for operating said clutch engaged by saidroekenarm, and means for alternately operating the latter as thecarriage is moved in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

25. The combination with the carriage, and the cutting-table, of thecutting-reel, a constantly-operated shaft, and gearing intermediate saidshaft and the reel for effecting the rotation of the latter, comprisinga member loose on said shaft, a clutch for locking said member to theshaft, a rocker-arm, a lever for operating said clutch engaged by saidrocker-arm, a tappet, carried by the carriage for moving said rocker-armin one direction, a trip for said tappet, and a rotary device foractuating said rocker-arm in the reverse direction, substantially as setforth.

26. The combination with the carriage, and the enttingtable, of thecutting-reel, a constantly-operated shaft, and gearing intermediate theshaft and the reel for effecting the rotation of the latter, comprisinga member loose on said shaft, a clutch, a rocker-arm for actuating saidclutch, a tappet carried by the carriage, a trip for said tappet, and afinger rotated by said gearing, said tappet and finger being designed tooperate said rockerarm in opposite directions, substantially as setforth.

37. The combination with the reel having a series of cross-bars at ornear its periphery, and wire-holders at or near its axial center, of theouter wire-holders mounted 011 said cross-bars having tension-controlledmeans, and members movable independently of said means for throwing onand off the tension of the several last-mentioned wire-holders, andcutting-wires radiating from said central wireholders and engaging saidtension-controlled means, as set forth.

28. The combination with the reel having a series of cross-bars at ornear its periphery, and the casing upon which the reel is revoluble alsohaving a series of cross-bars which latter are all equidistant from theaxial center of the reel, of the cutting-wires extending radially fromsaid cross-bars of the casing, wire holders revoluble around said lattercross-bars, wireholders mounted on said cross-bars ofthe reelhavingtension-controlled means and independently-movable members forthrowing on and off the tension of the several wire-holders,substantially as set forth.

2.). The combination with the reel having a series of cross-bars at ornear its periphery, and the casing upon which the reel is revoluble alsohaving a series of cross-bars which latter are all equidistant from theaxial center of the reel, of the cutting-wires extending radially fromsaid cross-bars of the casing, wire holders revoluble around said lattercross-bars, having each a series of lugs, each of said cutting -wireshaving looped ends, wire-holders mounted on said cross-bars of the reelhaving each an independently-movable member provided with a lug forengagement therewith of the outer looped end of its respective cuttingwire, and tension controlled means forming part of each holder, and towhich one of the independently-movable members is secured, as set forth.

230. The combination with the reel having cross-bars at its periphery,and the radiallyextended cutting-wires,of wire-holding means mounted onsaid cross-bars for exerting a pull on the wires, comprisingindependently-movable pivoted members to which the wires are secured,and springs acting on but supported independently of such members, asset forth.

31. The combination with the reel having cross-bars at its periphery,and the radiallyeXtended cutting-wires,of wire-holding means mounted onsaid cross-bars for exerting a pull on the wires, comprising a rodspring-actuated in the direction of its length, and a lever pivoted atone end to one end of such rod and to which lever one of thecutting-wires is attached at a point near its pivot-bearing, as setforth.

32. The combination with the reel having cross-bars at its periphery,and the radiallyeXtended cutting-wires,of wireholding means mounted onsaid cross-bars for exerting a pull on the wires, comprising castingsmounted on said cross bars having tubular portions,longitudinally-movable rods in said latter portions, fixedly-supportedsprings exerting a longitudinal action on said rods, and levers to whichthe wires are attached, said levers being pivoted to the ends of saidrods and locked thereby when positioned to exert tension on the wires,substantially as set forth.

The combination with the reel having cross-bars, and the centralstationary guidebars,of the rings,revoluble around said guidebars,having prongs, the radial cutting-wires havinglooped ends engaging saidprongs, and locking devices for the outer ends of the wires mounted onthe cross-bars, and comprising each a rod springactuated longitudinally,and locking-levers, pivoted each to one en (1 of each of such rods andhaving lateral projec tions near their pivot-bearings, to which theouter looped end of the respective cuttingwire is attached,substantially as set forth.

.3 The combination with the reel, and the central stationary guide-bars,of the rings oncircling said guide-bars, means for attaching the innerends of the wires to said rings, means for yieldingly holding the outerends of the wires to the reel, and a cuttingiable having slots in itsside and bottom terminating in openings in said sides, said wires andrings being designed to pass, respectively, through said slots andopenings, as set forth.

35. The combination with the reel, and the central stationary bars,formed with grooves,

of the rings encircling said bars and fitted in said grooves, said ringsbeing formed with prongs, the cutting wires engaging said prongs,spring-held holders for the outer ends of said wires, and acutting-table having slots in its side and bottom terminating inopenings in said sides, said wires and rings being designed to pass,respectively, through said slots and openings, as set forth.

36. The combination with the carriage, of a feed-belt, a drum actuatedthereby, a camdisk revoluble with said drum for moving said carriageforward in unison with the movement of the bar of clay, and upon thecompletion of such movement returning said carriage to its normalposition, cutting mechanism, and means for automatically actuating thesame during said forward movement of the carriage, as set forth.

37. The combination with the feed-belt and the carriage, of thebelt-drum, the shaft therefor, a loosely-mounted cam-disk, a Wheel fastto said cam-disk, said wheel being designed to be rotated by saiddrum-shaft, means for accelerating the rotation of said Wheel andcam-disk, and means actuated by said camdisk for moving said carriage,as set forth.

38. The combination with the feed-belt and the carriage, of the belt-drum, the shaft therefor, a disk fast on said shaft carrying a lug, acam-disk, a wheel fast with said cam-disk and having a lug designed tobe engaged by the former lug, means actuated by said cam-disk for movingthe carriage, and independently-operated means for moving said wheelindependently of the drum-shaft, as set forth.

39. The combination with the feed-belt and the carriage, of thefeed-belt drum, the shaft therefor, a stationary elongated bearing, adisk fast on said shafthavinga lug, a cam-disk loose on said bearing, asegmentallytoothed worm-wheel fast to said cam-disk, having a lug withwhich the former lug is designed to engage, and a constantly-operatedshaft haw ing a Worm for moving said worm-Wheel and cam-disk at anaccelerated speed independently of said former shaft, substantially asset forth.

40. The combination with the feedhelt and the carriage, of the feed-beltdru m, the shaft therefor, an elongated stationary bearing for saidshaft, a disk fast on said shaft having a lug, a disk loose on saidbearing having cams on opposite sides, a segmentally-toothed Wormwheelfast to said cam-disk and having a lug with which the former lug isdesigned to engage, a yoke straddling said cam-disk having rollersdesigned to be engaged by said cams,

a connection between said yoke and the carriage, and aconstantly-operated shaft having a cam for engaging said worm-Wheel andmoving the latter and the cam-disk independently of the drum-shaft,substantially as set forth.,

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

EGBERT M. FREESE.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. II. LONIUS, 1;. E. PLACE.

